Most web hosting service providers offer two kinds of hosting: Linux hosting and Windows hosting. When it comes to comparing Linux and Windows hosting options, it depends on what you need from your server. The choice you make for your operating system will depend on how you plan to use your server.
Linux dedicated servers play an important role in running and managing most e-commerce websites today. Today, Linux is one of the leading server operating systems.
1. Operating System
Windows and Linux servers have different performance, security, pricing, database formats, and other features that will influence the functions of your hosting. The most convenient tool you will find in both systems is FTP server. If you're planning on interacting with the operating system directly, instead of using a tool like cPanel for managing your databases and software, then you will opt for Windows as it is much easier to manage.
2. Ease of use
Accessing and managing your windows hosting server is quite easy. However, interacting directly with the Linux OS will require you to learn how to use the command line. But Windows is much easier to manage.
3. Control Panels and Development Tools
Purchasers of Linux hosting packages can access the server through cPanel and WHM. With cPanel, you can install a huge amount of important software, all through a simple interface. Windows users will access their server through a control Panel known as Plesk. Plesk offers many of the same features you can get with cPanel - allowing you to run the Windows version of the LAMP stack.
4. Reliability and Security
Not only is Linux typically more secure than Windows, but it's more reliable too. The strong security of Linux, like its reliability, comes from its advanced design. There are Linux servers on the web today that hasn't needed a reboot in years - while the same can't be said of Windows solutions. Many developers and system admins find that it's easier for them to protect their website if they're running on a Linux host.
5. Server-side applications
Certain server-side applications will require Windows hosting such as those written in:
.NET.
ASP
ASP.NET
MS SQL
PHP
MySQL
Visual Basic development
MS Access
Applications that Windows does not support:
WordPress
Python
Perl
CGI
WYSIWYG
Web Programming Languages that both Linux and Windows support:
PHP
MySQL (although MySQL is more commonly used on Linux)
6. Cost
Being an open-source platform, Linux is free of cost. Linux hosting offered by web hosting providers is, therefore, more affordable than Windows hosting.
